Matthew Bailey
@whyoutloud.bsky.social
Political bits and bobs, often to no meaningful end. Formerly the likes of thatchersrise etc over on the 'other' place.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Nigel Farage is already observing a boycott of the BBC that began in Aug 2013.
And another from May 2019.
And another from May 2024. And June 2024. And July 2024. Busy year for boycotts!
And one from July 2025.
But this time, I'm sure he's telling the truth.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
And another from May 2019.
And another from May 2024. And June 2024. And July 2024. Busy year for boycotts!
And one from July 2025.
But this time, I'm sure he's telling the truth.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK pulls out of BBC film amid Trump speech edit row
Internal party memo says ‘trust has been lost’ as US president reiterates threat of legal action against corporation
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Nigel Farage is already observing a boycott of the BBC that began in Aug 2013.
And another from May 2019.
And another from May 2024. And June 2024. And July 2024. Busy year for boycotts!
And one from July 2025.
But this time, I'm sure he's telling the truth.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
And another from May 2019.
And another from May 2024. And June 2024. And July 2024. Busy year for boycotts!
And one from July 2025.
But this time, I'm sure he's telling the truth.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
In Birmingham for tonight’s concert of Schumann & Stravinsky by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & Simon Rattle and picked up this flyer about UoN’s dreadful Music Dept plans. Spread the word.
November 11, 2025 at 10:41 PM
In Birmingham for tonight’s concert of Schumann & Stravinsky by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & Simon Rattle and picked up this flyer about UoN’s dreadful Music Dept plans. Spread the word.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Do you love panto posters? Do you think the only thing that could improve panto posters would be a podcast where @benbaker.bsky.social and I talk about one?
Well boy oh boy have I got some good news.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovYe...
Well boy oh boy have I got some good news.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovYe...
Here is the first poster we will be looking at in detail, at PantoSplaining!
November 11, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Do you love panto posters? Do you think the only thing that could improve panto posters would be a podcast where @benbaker.bsky.social and I talk about one?
Well boy oh boy have I got some good news.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovYe...
Well boy oh boy have I got some good news.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovYe...
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Beano #1012, Dec 9, 1961
November 11, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Beano #1012, Dec 9, 1961
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
It's definitely there, a sort of darkening of the mood. It inspired this short experiment in pastiche which I've expanded into a proper story for my next collection:
precastreinforced.co.uk/2021/08/25/f...
precastreinforced.co.uk/2021/08/25/f...
FICTION: [U115] The Beyond (Lennon)
Or ‘Revolution of the Dead’, with apologies to Ian MacDonald. A plain text version of this story is available here.
precastreinforced.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 12:04 PM
It's definitely there, a sort of darkening of the mood. It inspired this short experiment in pastiche which I've expanded into a proper story for my next collection:
precastreinforced.co.uk/2021/08/25/f...
precastreinforced.co.uk/2021/08/25/f...
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Found a mix-tape I made in my teens: #TheBeatles Alternate Blue Album 1967–70.
Tomorrow Never Knows
She Said She Said
She's Leaving Home
Getting Better
Only a Northern Song
Hey Bulldog
Happiness Is a Warm Gun
Long Long Long
Helter Skelter
Mother Nature's Son
Two of Us
I've Got a Feeling
Medley
Rev 9
Tomorrow Never Knows
She Said She Said
She's Leaving Home
Getting Better
Only a Northern Song
Hey Bulldog
Happiness Is a Warm Gun
Long Long Long
Helter Skelter
Mother Nature's Son
Two of Us
I've Got a Feeling
Medley
Rev 9
October 29, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Found a mix-tape I made in my teens: #TheBeatles Alternate Blue Album 1967–70.
Tomorrow Never Knows
She Said She Said
She's Leaving Home
Getting Better
Only a Northern Song
Hey Bulldog
Happiness Is a Warm Gun
Long Long Long
Helter Skelter
Mother Nature's Son
Two of Us
I've Got a Feeling
Medley
Rev 9
Tomorrow Never Knows
She Said She Said
She's Leaving Home
Getting Better
Only a Northern Song
Hey Bulldog
Happiness Is a Warm Gun
Long Long Long
Helter Skelter
Mother Nature's Son
Two of Us
I've Got a Feeling
Medley
Rev 9
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Academic hive mind... What's the best thing written on why local government has so many "consultations"?
And has anything been written on the consequences - in terms of political trust/efficacy - of so many of them being quite so obviously sham?
And has anything been written on the consequences - in terms of political trust/efficacy - of so many of them being quite so obviously sham?
November 11, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Academic hive mind... What's the best thing written on why local government has so many "consultations"?
And has anything been written on the consequences - in terms of political trust/efficacy - of so many of them being quite so obviously sham?
And has anything been written on the consequences - in terms of political trust/efficacy - of so many of them being quite so obviously sham?
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
I like the Carry On films but the lore is too confusing, impossible for modern audiences to accept these people could play a major part in the French Revolution AND lose their bras on camping holidays
November 11, 2025 at 1:24 PM
I like the Carry On films but the lore is too confusing, impossible for modern audiences to accept these people could play a major part in the French Revolution AND lose their bras on camping holidays
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
From today's Chronicle of Higher Ed briefing. I am *never* an advocate of cutting programs. But I am curious to see if there will be the same type of "students aren't majoring in this, so let's cut the program" discourse around computer science as there always is for the arts and humanities.
November 11, 2025 at 12:38 PM
From today's Chronicle of Higher Ed briefing. I am *never* an advocate of cutting programs. But I am curious to see if there will be the same type of "students aren't majoring in this, so let's cut the program" discourse around computer science as there always is for the arts and humanities.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Joyce Carol Oates owned Elon so hard he's spent the last day posting about movies he hasn't seen in 15 years
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Joyce Carol Oates owned Elon so hard he's spent the last day posting about movies he hasn't seen in 15 years
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
The two child cap is a test of the government’s seriousness: if you are serious about child poverty, you lift it, and if you are serious about not wasting money, you don’t fritter away cash on dumb things like vouchers to try and manage the PLP.
If the government chooses to keep the 2 child limit and spend money on vouchers and parenting programmes instead, child poverty will rise and this will be a conscious and deliberate political choice in defiance of all the evidence
Scrapping the cap entirely is both good policy *and* good politics.
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The two child cap is a test of the government’s seriousness: if you are serious about child poverty, you lift it, and if you are serious about not wasting money, you don’t fritter away cash on dumb things like vouchers to try and manage the PLP.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
real ‘we respect student opinion but only if we already agree’ vibes across the sector
Did @uniofnottingham.bsky.social consult any students before announcing the proposed course closures? @uonucu.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
University of Nottingham students fight 'insane' cull of courses
Traitors composer Sam Watts is among those against plans to cut University of Nottingham courses.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 AM
real ‘we respect student opinion but only if we already agree’ vibes across the sector
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
![Cartoon by Stephen Collins for The Guardian. Script as follows:
[scene is Winston Churchill in a bbc studio, giving his 'finest hour' speech]
1
CHURCHILL:
The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.
2
CHURCHILL:
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war.
3
CHURCHILL:
If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free
and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sun-
BBC PRESENTER:
Thank you prime minister
4
BBC PRESENTER:
Mr hitler, your response?
5
HITLER [in the studio]:
Vell zis is hysterical woke nonsense as usual from mr Churchill
6
HITLER:
What we are proposing -
CHURCHILL:
Hang on
7
HITLER:
Let me finish - what we are proposing eez a simple power-sharing arrangement -
8
CHURCHILL:
What's he doing here
BBC PRESENTER:
It's important we hear both sides of the debate
9
CHURCHILL:
This isn't a debate
You don't debate fascists
10
HITLER:
Oh here we go with ze Godwins law!
11
HITLER:
Why must you people always compare ze things you don't like to 'fascists, Nazis, Hitler'...
CHURCHILL:
Because you are a fascist Nazi Hit-
12
HITLER [standing up, saluting]:
RAUSS!
BBC PRESENTER:
*Please* Mr Churchill let him speak
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibw4ldc3fhslbvxgy2oqrof2oys5kpgh7zu6a5f3usmx3lf4547qm@jpeg)
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
I’m surprised Davie has resigned over that Panorama edit (seems like a bit of a nothingburger to me) but I’m glad he’s gone. On his watch the BBC simply gave up the ghost on factual documentary TV, and decided the best way to serve its audience was to patronise it.
1/2
1/2
November 9, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I’m surprised Davie has resigned over that Panorama edit (seems like a bit of a nothingburger to me) but I’m glad he’s gone. On his watch the BBC simply gave up the ghost on factual documentary TV, and decided the best way to serve its audience was to patronise it.
1/2
1/2
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
The BBC is tearing itself apart to appease publications and politicians who want to see it die.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
November 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
The BBC is tearing itself apart to appease publications and politicians who want to see it die.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
So, I assume we’re going to demand that heads roll at Fox News for all the shit they chatted about Sadiq Khan? Is that how this works? #FuckBoris
November 9, 2025 at 10:15 PM
So, I assume we’re going to demand that heads roll at Fox News for all the shit they chatted about Sadiq Khan? Is that how this works? #FuckBoris
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
November 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Depressing that the BBC has so little inherent institutional strength, it is kicked about so easily.
This is not good sign for our polity.
This is not good sign for our polity.
November 9, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Depressing that the BBC has so little inherent institutional strength, it is kicked about so easily.
This is not good sign for our polity.
This is not good sign for our polity.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Ah, 9 November – a sad one, this: 59th anniversary of the day Paul McCartney died, forcing the other Beatles to replace him with an orphan they had trained to impersonate him, and then (obviously) put clues in songs and on album covers so people could find out anyway
November 9, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Ah, 9 November – a sad one, this: 59th anniversary of the day Paul McCartney died, forcing the other Beatles to replace him with an orphan they had trained to impersonate him, and then (obviously) put clues in songs and on album covers so people could find out anyway
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
And they say there are no new sitcom ideas
November 9, 2025 at 10:13 AM
And they say there are no new sitcom ideas
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Tune in at 18:10 to see Thora Hird founding Antifa in Went The Day Well
November 7, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Tune in at 18:10 to see Thora Hird founding Antifa in Went The Day Well
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Which one is more English?
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
It’s not even going to advance your position in the party because they are going to see it as disloyal, which it is?
November 6, 2025 at 10:19 PM
It’s not even going to advance your position in the party because they are going to see it as disloyal, which it is?
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
The government have been rolling the pitch for tax rises for a month, your intervention here is not going to change their plans, and all this is going to do is make things more difficult for the party that you are deputy leader of.
It’s an actively, aggressively stupid intervention on every level.
It’s an actively, aggressively stupid intervention on every level.
“Don’t put up income tax, NI or VAT”…in the same interview “spend more money”. While I think the Labour leadership should have thought more intelligently (read: at all) about how to get out of their tax pledges, can see why they made them!
Labour should stick to manifesto pledges on tax, deputy leader says
The government has repeatedly refused to rule out increasing income tax in this month's Budget.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The government have been rolling the pitch for tax rises for a month, your intervention here is not going to change their plans, and all this is going to do is make things more difficult for the party that you are deputy leader of.
It’s an actively, aggressively stupid intervention on every level.
It’s an actively, aggressively stupid intervention on every level.